Mr. H. F. Baxter on Nerve Force. 15 



stated that nerve force was a polar force*. He considered the 

 nervous substance to consist of two forms — the vesicular or grey- 

 nervous matter, and the fibrous or white nervous matter. But 

 with regard to the generation of nerve force, he compared it to 

 the actions which take place in a galvanic battery. He saysfj 

 "At the point of junction or intermingling of these two forms of 

 nervous matter (the white and the grey or vesicular) blood is very 

 freely supplied, and at these points there is generated constantly 

 and unceasingly a force which in its nature resembles very 

 closely the galvanic force or current electricity as developed in 



the galvanic battery or magneto-electric machine But 



there are ample grounds for the opinion that, although nearly 

 allied to electricity, it differs from, and is probably a higher 

 relation of force than, that power. " 



Dr. Carpenter J says, "There can be no reasonable doubt that 

 the production of nerve force in the central organs is dependent 

 upon the development of the peculiar cells constituting the 

 ganglionic or vesicular substance; that either cells or cell- 

 nuclei are the agents in the origination of nerve force at the 

 peripheral extremities of the nerve fibres." 



According to Muller§, "the nervous principle is generated 

 and regenerated in the central organs." 



Professor Huxley ||, in a lecture delivered at the Royal In- 

 stitution, alludes to the rhythmic contraction of the heart, and 

 states, " we know that the ganglia are centres whence that ex- 

 citement (nervous) originates." And Mr. Paget^[ speaks of the 

 ganglia of the heart as being the rhythmic centres, and at the 

 same time refers the effects (rhythmic contractions) to rhythmic 

 nutrition. 



Without quoting other authorities, I believe the general 

 opinion amongst anatomists and physiologists to be the fol- 

 lowing : — that the vesicular or ganglionic portion of the nervous 

 system originates nervous force, and that it is transmitted from 

 one part of the nervous system to another by means of the fibrous 

 or white portion. I will not say that this is the opinion of all 

 physiologists, or that I am acquainted with the views that are 

 generally entertained upon the subject; but as far as I have 

 been able to understand the language that has been employed, 

 it appears to me to be implied that nerve force is generated in 



* Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology, art. Nervous System. 



t Medical Gazette, April 27, 1849. 



X " On the Mutual Relations of the Vital and Physical Forces," Phil. 

 Trans. 1850. 



§ Muller's Physiology, trans, by Baly, 2nd edit. p. 847. 



|| On the Present State of Knowledge as to the Structure and Functions 

 of Nerve, May 15, 1857- 



H Proceedings of the Royal Society, May 28, 1857. 



